Venkaiah Naidu lauds Prabhu for 'realistic', 'pragmatic' budget

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday complimented Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu for coming up with a 'realistic' and 'pragmatic' Railway Budget and said that the latter has given a roadmap to make railways the backbone of transportation in the country.

Naidu said security, cleanliness and service to the people have been given top priorities in the Railway Budget.

"The Railway Minister has come up with a realistic and pragmatic budget; one should really compliment him. The effect of the budget will be known at the end of the year. The minister has given a road map which is very innovative and inspiring for making our railways a backbone of transportation in our country. Railways are a true driver of economic growth," Naidu told mediapersons here.

"Railway Budget is realistic, pragmatic, it has given top priority for security, swachhta, service to the people and speed; these are the aspects which are being given importance in the new railway budget. I am very happy and I would like to compliment Suresh Prabhu," he added.

Reacting to Congress's criticism of the Rail Budget, Venkiah Naidu asked how many promises have the UPA kept during their railway budgets.

"People may sat many things like no new line, no new rail. What are the promises made in last 10 years about new trains and how many of them have been implemented. What are the promises made about new lines and how many have been initiated," he said.

Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu earlier in the day presented the Railway Budget for fiscal 2015-16 in Parliament.

This is the NDA Government's first full-fledged railway budget since assuming power last year.